Fact or Fiction: The History of Makeup

This might be stating the obvious, but makeup sure has come a long way since the days of ancient Egypt. You might be shocked at what women do in the name of beauty today -- what with all the nipping, tucking and chiseling -- but, hey, at least we've stopped putting poison on our faces (Botox notwithstanding). Take a stab at our quiz and find out how much you know about the history of makeup.

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Question 1 of 20

The ancient Egyptians made their makeup out of sand mixed with ink.

fact

fiction

Copper and lead were the more prevalent ingredients in ancient Egypt.

almost fact: They used sand mixed with crushed insects.

Question 2 of 20

Members of a certain ruling class in ancient China could be identified by their blood-red fingernails.

fact

fiction

almost fact: Gold or silver nails were the fashion.

Members of the Chou dynasty (which ruled from 1050 to 256 B.C.) had gold or silver nails. Commoners were forbidden from decorating their nails.

Question 3 of 20

Women in ancient Rome lightened their skin with creams made from talc.

fact

fiction

Romans did want to lighten their skin, but they did it with creams made from chalk.

almost fact: The fashion was for darker skin, so they mixed talc with river mud.

Question 4 of 20

Makeup production and application in ancient Rome was usually performed by female slaves called cosmetae.

fact

Well-to-do Roman women were made up multiple times a day by their female cosmetae.

fiction

almost fact: Cosmetae were male.

Question 5 of 20

Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder thought that women should make sure to have long eyelashes to prove their chastity.

fact

Yes, Pliny thought that women's eyelashes fell out when they had too much sex -- hence the ancient Roman craze for false eyelashes.

fiction

almost fact: He thought that straight teeth were a sign of purity.

Question 6 of 20

The poisonous plant belledame ('beautiful lady') might have gotten its name because women would put drops of it in their eyes to dilate their pupils, making them look sexually aroused.

fact

fiction

The plant was used for eyedrops, but the name is belladonna, not belledame.